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1. Voting rights
Republicans in Georgia have passed a comprehensive election bill that voters claim is a bold attempt to suppress voters. The new law imposes new voter identification requirements for absent ballots, empowers state officials to take over local election commissions, limits the use of ballot boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters to provide them with food and water. The law is seen as a victory for former President Trump and his allies, who falsely claimed widespread electoral fraud during the 2020 election. Trump himself pressured Georgian leaders to overthrow Joe Biden’s victory in the state. President Biden called such bills “sick” and “anti-American.” Other Republican-led states are considering similar voter suppression laws, triggering calls for federal legislation to establish a national baseline for voting rules.
2. Coronavirus
The United States has now surpassed 30 million total pandemic infections. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has warned again that despite the reopening and growing desire to return to normal, the United States still has about 1,000 deaths a day and is facing a growing threat of coronavirus variants. . She also said that vaccination efforts help the situation. The Biden administration says it will dedicate another $ 10 billion to expand access to the Covid-19 vaccine and increase confidence in vaccines. The Senate voted to extend the application deadline for the Wage Protection Program, the key federal aid effort for small businesses, until May 31. Oh, and good news for new mothers: New research shows that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective during pregnancy and lactation. women, who can transmit protective antibodies to newborns.
3. The White House
Biden held his first official press conference at the White House yesterday. During the long-awaited discussion, he took a strong stance on his goal of reforming the Senate filibuster. The filibuster generally refers to any time when senators ask for a super-majority to interrupt debates and proceed to a proper vote. Ending it would mean passing legislation by a simple majority – a critical thing to consider in a tightly divided Senate. When discussing immigration, Biden downplayed the growing crisis on the southern border and said his predecessor’s policies made it more difficult to properly house and process the record number of migrant children in custody. Internationally, Biden said one of his top priorities is to repair global relations. He also identified the most important foreign policy issue he is now facing: North Korea.
4. Foreign policy
The Biden administration also faces other foreign policy challenges. During his press conference, Biden expressed uncertainty about meeting the May 1 deadline for the full withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. A six-month extension is being considered, and Biden said he “can’t imagine” American troops still in Afghanistan next year. In the meantime, the United States will resume diplomatic ties with Palestinians who were cut off under the previous administration. Trump has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians, virtually disrupting diplomatic contact. US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the Biden team would work for a negotiated two-state solution to secure Israel’s future as a democratic and Jewish state, while upholding the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a state of their own.
5. China
China has launched several retaliatory measures in response to international sanctions on Xinjiang. The Chinese government has announced sanctions against parliamentarians, academics and British entities, banning them from entering China and freezing their assets there. The British ambassador to China was also summoned by Beijing. H&M, Nike and other major Western clothing brands have expressed concern in recent months about the alleged use of forced labor to produce cotton in Xinjiang, one of the types of human rights violations China is accused of in the region. Now, those retailers are facing heavy criticism, including boycott threats and termination of contracts with some Chinese celebrities.
ANSWER TO BREAKFAST
Jessica Walter, known for her roles in “Arrested Development” and “Archer”, has died
Walter, 80, was a force both on stage and on screen and starred in several Broadway productions.
GameStop, AMC and other meme stocks are rising again
This time, it was fueled by real hopes for a GameStop rebirth.
People are fascinated by the clock device of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey
What, don’t you have a gadget that displays blockchain data in your luxurious but rare, billionaire kitchen?
A bottle of wine was thrown into space. Here’s what it tastes like now
Come space! Come space!
An erupting volcano in Iceland is called “cute”
Volcanologists are, of course, puzzled by our desire to anthropomorphize a deadly force of nature.
Pepsi’s newest flavor has Peeps in it
We will not say that. No, I won’t ………… Peepsi.
TODAY’S NUMBER
706,000
This is the number of cubic meters of sand that the Suez Canal authorities say should be removed to release Ever Ever, that giant oil tanker that blocks the critical waterway in Egypt.
TODAY’S PRESENT
“His brutal crime must not be forgotten and there must be justice.”
Representative. Gerry Connolly, which supports federal law seeking to punish Saudi Arabia for killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The law on the protection of Saudi dissidents would go further than the Biden administration did, in that the country’s crown prince is responsible for Khashoggi’s death.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check the local forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
Mmm, fried maple leaves
A new, captivating, ultra-regional delicacy desirable, this time from Japan! Hatred! (Click here to view.)